Knitting-machine.



H, PETERS.

KNJTTING moms. A

APPUCA'HON FILED JUNE 10, I915.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917,

4 $HEETS-SHEET 1.

Cl ic .Invemtor); MMW M 5 H. PZZEERS.

KNITTING MACHiNE.

APmcmon HLED sum 10; sens.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 2' ea ttarme y'.

H. PETERS. KmTrmG MACHINE.

APPLICATION men was 10. l915: Patentedsept. 18,1917.

l SHEETS-SHEET 3.

In 06 1060 r:

mimm 21 a1 thorn/63.5

H. PEYERS.

KNITTING MACHENE- AFPUDATIGH HLED same 10, was

Patenied Sept. Hi, EH?

4 SHEETS SHEU' 4.

i machines. a.

I reinforcing yarn-across the plain or unremforeed parts ofqthe knittedfabric, and the 1 cutting away the surplus floating yarn hy Um ps ATEsPATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN rn'rnns, or MILWAUKEE. Wisconsin. ASSIGNOR TO HOLEI'ROOF HOSIERY"co., O QEI MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or WISCONSIN.

KN IT'lING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18,1917.

To all .112 ham itmay. concern 130 it known that l, lli-f'nmw Versus,21. eitizenoflhe United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county-ofMilwaukee and State. of iViseons-in, hare" invented certain new1lllll-ll8(5flll* lnmrovements in Knitting- Marhines, of which thefollowing is a specificalimn reference .heing had' to the accompanyingdrawing, forming-a part thereof.

This, invention relates-more particularly to circular-latch needleknitting machines and to mechanism "for reinforcin certain parts-oftubular knitting produced on such Its main objects-Fare to ar oidfloating the trouhle and 'wast'eincidenbto trimming or hand orotherwise,aml generally to improve the eonstruction a'nd operation ofmachines of this class. I

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination; parts. ashereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate, the same parts inthe soveral figures.

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a circular knitting machine cmhod i ingthe invention; Fig. 2 is a plauiview'on alreularged seale of lheknitting head of the machine; l lg. 3 IS an enlarged rear-elevation asTie-wed from the lel t relative to'Fig. I; Fig. 4 is a detaehed detail.view of a tension rehasing' deviee eonstitutiugmpnrt of the invention;'l ig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 4;, Fig. .5. of lhe upperpart ol the machine; Fig. ii is a vertical section on the line F -(3,Fig. 2; and Figs. 7. a and 9 are. detarhod detail views of the insideeulliug. holding and guiding devices of the. reinforcing mechanisms.|igs. -T and fl being elevations as viewed l l'lllll the lower side of-l"i.'.". '1. showing lhe parts in dill'rrent pos liuns. and Fig. Hlwiug'an elevation and partial seehnn as viewed l rnrn (he left relativein Fig.

The machine to \vlr'u-h the present inv ulion iapplied w'oluprises'mrotary needle. evliuder l. |n'r-.\hl('d avillra eirrular series ofhilrli needles L. a laleh ring 2!. a sinker ring I. a needle emu ringand yarn carriers (3, 7, h and .I. pivoted roll a eruss pin 10 in anoilensiun on ne side of {he latch ring .l.

of this kind, by cams (not shown) on a. shaft 14, shown in Fig. 1, oneof the lifting jacks or levers being shown in Fig. 6 in connecti n withthe reinforcing yarn carrier 6. In t e "present machine the carrier 9 isemployed to guide the main yarn which is knit continuously into theentire fabric, while the remaining carriers 7 and 8, or either of them,are or may be used for supplying one or more yarns either continuouslyor intermittently, to the needles, for various kinds of knitting.

As usual in macliines of this kind, the I lifting jack or lever 13,which coiiperates with the carricrG for the reinforcing yarn,

designated a on the drawing, has two actuating connections, one withacorn on the shaft 14, and the'other with a can (not shown) on the shaft15, shown in Fig. 1, the latter can: serving to actuate the yarn carrierduring the reinforcing operqtions of the niaehine. while the former camserves to lift and hold llie carrier in a still higher position,indicated by dotted iines III Fig.v (3, while plain or unreinforeedportions of the fahrie are heing knit. I

The niael ne is provided as shown in 'l*igs. 2 and 5 with a tensiondevice comprisin two disks or jaws 16,]wtween which the reinforcing yarna. is led to the carrier 6, and which are yieldiugly pressed together hya spring 17.

'lhe reinforcing yarn p'asses through and is direeled in proper positionto the tension derive h v guides l-i and 19. i

The parts llue- I'a r deserihed are generally of lhe usualwelllmownelmslruction and arrangement in circular knitting machines ofthe trpe' to which the present invention is applicable. In ronneelionwith such parts the reinforeing 'nieeluinism constituting the inventionomprises. as shown in Figs. 2, 5 T. H and 9. a rm-iprrmnliug slide 10.formed ul provided a! one end adjacent to the circular series f needleson [he inner side HQ thereof, with a downwardl directed hook, a cutter21, cooperating wit 1 one side of the hook to sever the reinforcing yarna near the point in the fabric from which it is withdrawn, and-ayielding clamp 22, cooperating with the other side of the hook to gripand hold the severed or detached and of the yarn when the carrier 6 isshifted upwardly out of working position, as shown by full lines in Fig.6. This slide, cutter and clamp are mounted on a segmental plate 23,which is supported within the series of needles just above the needlecylinder 1, by an angular arm 24, which is fastened at one end to therear side of the latch rin 3. The cutter blade 21 is adjustablyamfdetachahly fastencd to the edge of the plate 23, or a sectionthereof, approximately 'arallel with and close to the series of need eson the opposite side of the hook slide 20 from, and a short distanceinadvance of the carrier 6 relative to the direction of rotation of theneedle cylinder and needles as indicated by an arrow in Rig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 8, the clamp 22 is provided with a stem which is guidedin a socket formed therefor in the plate 23 at right angles to th( hookslide 20, and a. spiral spring inserted in an enlar ement of saidsocket, presses and holds t e clamp yieldingly against said slide.

A reciprocating movement is imparted to the hook slide 20 during thereinforcing operation of the: machine by the following means:

A U-shaped lever fulcrumed on the plate 23 by a pin or bolt 25 passingvertically through a tubular connecting member of the lever and fastenedat its lower end'in the plate, has two horizontally disposed arms 26 and27, one above the other. i The arm 2-7 engages with 'a notch in theupper side of the hook slide 20. as indicated by dotted lines in Fi 2.The upper arm 26 is connected, as s own in Figs. 2 and 3, by a link 28with the upper end of a vertically disposed lever 29, which is fulcrnmcdbetween its ends on the outer side of the latch ring 3. The lower end ofthe lever 25 is provided with a roller 30, arranged to cooperate with acam 3i attached to and rotatable with the sinker lied surrounding theneedle cylinder 1, below the sinker ring 4. A spring 32 coiled aroundthe fulcrum hearing of the lever 29 and connected at one end with'saiclhearing and at the other end with an arm ll-l on the fulcrum pin orjournal of the lever. tends to turn the lover arm 'ii'l out wardly andto hold the roller 30 in working relation to the cam 31. The inwardmore-- mcnt of the upper end of the lever 2! ioward the noodle cf 'linlcr limited, and overthrow by momentum of the parts cor:- ncctodtherewith is prevented by an adjust able stop 34, while the movement ofsaid lever in the opposite direction is limited by an adjustablestop'35.

A bell crank'lever 86, fulcrumod on the plate 23, has one of its armsplvotally connected with a lateral extension of the lower lever arm 27,and its other arm, which extends outwardly betw the lever arms-26 and27, formed or provi ed at the and with a downwardly directed 00korprojection 37, serving as an inside' idc for the rainforcing yarno,and cooperatin with the carrier 6 to direct said yarn wi between thesame two needles in successive revolutions of the needle cylinder whenthe carrier is lowered into wor position during the operation of the reamsm.

The hooked ide arm of the lever 86 is adapted to ate between the hook'slide 20 and a point dimctl opposite the yarn carrier 6, as shown in 2and 6;

For separating the disks orjaws 16 of the tension device and relievinthe reinforcing yarn a from tension win c it is being knit into thefabric, an angular lever 38,fulcrumed on one side of an overhanging arm39 which carries the tension device, is adapted by engagement with thestem of the movable disk or jaw, to separate the disks orjawsin'oppoaition to thcspr' 17, when or shortly after the carrier 6 islowered into working position. The shorter upwardly projecting armofthis lever is provid with a laberallyprojecting angular extension 40,which is held by a retracto'rcing mech;

ing spring 41 inengagement with the heel,

or outer end of the carrier 6, as Fi s. 2 and a. l

o delay the separation oflthe jaws 16 and removal of tension on th'reinforcin yarn a after the carrier 6 has n lowe into working positionand un' ii the yarn adjacent to its detached end old by the clamp 22, issecured in the fab 'c by a number of stitches, the longer nrmof thelever 38 is jointed, as shown in Figs h and 4, n'nd its pivoted endsection is a opted to yield upwardly against the tension 1 42, as shownin Fig. 4. 1

The spring 42 normally holds the sections of the ointed lover arm inalinement with each other, as shownin F'g. 3.

The link 28 is formed'or provided with an upward projection 43, which byenga ment with a laterally projecting pin or ii? 44 on the pivotedsection of the lever 38, serves as a stop to limit the downward movementof said section and; prevent its shown in ongagnn'mnt with the stem oflhe movable jaw 16 until said projection 13 has been shifted with thelink 28 outwardly far enough to release the pin or lap; 44, whereuponthe spring 42 throws the pivoted section down into engagement with themovable jaw, as indicated by dotted lines in certainty ot a spring lFig. 4, thereby separating it from the other jaw, the end of the stembeing rounded and the side of the pivoted section rounded or beveled, asshown in Fig. 5, for this purpose.

When the reinforein mechanism operat ing on the yarn a is t rown out ofaction and the carrier 6 is shifted into and held in its uppermostposition, indicated by the upper dotted lines in Fig. 6, by a cam on theshaft 14, as hereinbefore mentioned, the yarn is drawn by the rotarymotion of the cylinder into engagement with an inside clamp. or holder,and is severed by a cutter (not shown) with which machines of this kindare ordinarily rovided for holding and severing yarns w iich are used inparts only of the entire fabric.

10 prevent the operation of the hook slide 20 and inside guide 37 by thecam 31 and to hold them out of the way in the p0si tions in which theyare shown b full lines in F ig. 2, the machine is provide as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, with a spring-actuated hook or detent 45, which isivotally mounted on the latch ring 3, and is adapted when released, toengage with the am 23 and lock and hold the lever 29 with the hook slide20 and the guide 37 connected therewith, in the positions in which theyare shown in Figs. 2 and. 3, and in which they are unaffected by the cam31.

Thedetent is disengaged from the arm ilttwhen the reinforcing mechanismis to he brought into action, and is released to engage with said armwhen said mechanism ,is' to be thrown out of action, by a ram 46 on theshaft 14, which engages with one end of a lever 47, as shown in Fig. 1.With" the opposite end of the lever 47 a rod 48 is pivotally connected.This rod, extending upwardly from said lever, is guided in the base ofthe knittin head or a part of the frame, and is provit ed at its upperend, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with a laterally projecting arm 4!),which is adapted by engagement. with a pin or lug 5U, projecting fromone side of the detxant 1.7, to lift and hold said (latent out ofengagnnu-nt with the arm 33 when the rod IR is moved upwardly. A spring51, sur- 'I'onnding: the rod between the hase of the knitting lu-ad orpart of the l'rnnu' in which thirod isguidrd and a. shoulder or washeron the rod. l lnls to lift and hold the lt'lt'lll Iii out ofrngagrnn-ntwith lluarm :12; flhll lo lm'l'l th lvu'l' 17 in tngngt'nwnt. n ilh t'luperiphery of th ram I. :n; B loV-h in IU'L'. l ulnl i.

In tluopt-ration ol' llnnun'hino. whrn llH. ri-inl'or 'ln; nu-rhnnisniis hroughl into orlion. the rum on thishal'l l'l. \\'llitll nol'- mullhold. tluarrier 3 in its highest posii n. as n li 'ntvd hr the upperdotted lines i l t while llureinforcing mechanism is inactive, releasessaid carrier, whereupon the cam on the shaft 15 becomes effective toalternatelv lift and lower the carrier to' its middle lihsition, asshownliy full lines, and to its lowest position, as'indicatcd by thelower dotted lines in Fig. 6, through the medium of the lifting jack orlever 13, in the usual manner inztnnichine of this class.

At a certain point in the'rotation of the needle cylinder 1, the carrier6 is shifted from its intermediate to its lowest position therebycarrying the yarn a down and with the aid of the inside guide 37directing it between two needles, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.6. With the continued rota; tion of the needle cylinder the reinforcingyarn is knit with the main yarn into the fabric, in the usual manner,until at another point in; the rotation of the needle cylinder,determined by the shape of the cam on the shaft 15 which actuatesthecarricr during the reinforcing operation of the machine, the carrieris lifted into its intermediate position, thercb withdrawing the yarn aupwardly out of range with the needles 2.

Before the carrier 6 is thus lifted to its intwmediat'e position, thecam 31, or the high part thereof, clears the roller 30 on the lower endof the lever 29, thus permittingnthe spring 32 to turn theuppcr end ofsait lever outwardly against the back stop 35, and through the link 28to turn the lever arms 26 and 27 outwardly. lhe hook slide 20 is thusthrust outward into the position shown in Fig. 7, and the inside guide237 is turned forward toward said slide into the position indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 2.

As the fabric advances with the needle cylinder, it draws the yarn 0.,from the elevated carrier .6. underneath and into the hight of the hookon the slide 20, and underm-nth tho hooitod end of the. guide 37, asshown in Fizz. 7. The rain ill is thereupon brought into engagement withthe roller 30, and turns the upper end of the lower 2!) iu wardly intoongagcnu-nt with the front top Ill, thereby opt-rating (trough the. rod23 and lover arms 26 and .27, to shift the hook slide 20 back to itsformer position. asshown in Figs. 2, S and fl, andto swing the guide Vat hat-knard into position tlplltwllll' tlu- (:IIZ rior i. as v hown inFig. 2.

'lho guidi- 517 moving ba kward to its again by the rotation" of theneedle cylin er underneath the carrier and the earlier is lowered intowor position, as: indicated bhydottedlines in. i 6. As the yarn is {I us draw-n'downwar between the needles y the carrier, it is withdrawn fromthe hooked end of-the guide 37, and is knit into the fabric, a fewstitches being formed before the jaws 16 ofthe tension device areseparated, as hereinbefore described, and the end of the yarn isreleased bythe hook slide 20 and the clamp 22.

Immediately following the lowering of the carrier 6 into workingposition, the cam 31 or the high part thereof, clears the roller 30, andthe spring 32 turning the upper end of the lever 20 outward against theback stop 85, shifts the hook slide 20 outward into its receivingosition shown in Fig. 7, and turns the gui e 37 forward into theposition indicated y dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby releasing the endof the yarn a close to the fabric into which it is knit. The book of theslide 20 and the guide 37 are left in the positions in which they areshown in Fig. 7, to receive the reinforcing yarn a. when the carrier 6is again lifted out of working position and the yarn is drawn forwardwith' the advancing fabric 'from the elevated carrier. g

' The foregoing operations are" automatically' re ated for a number ofcourses, controlled y the cam on the shaft 14 hereinbefore mentionedwhich determines the numbar and extent of the reinforced portionsof thefabric. and the intervals between them lengthwise. of the fabric untilsaid cam lifts the carrier 6 to its highest osition as indicated bytheup r dotted lines in Fig. 6.

When a raise or higher part of the cam 46 is brou ht into engagementwith the lever 47, a littli: in advance of the elevation of the carrier6 to its highest position; the rod 48 is drawn downwardly ugainst'thetension of the spring 51, thereby releasing the detent 45, which isthereupon turned by its spring into engagement with the arm 33, lockingand holding the lever 29 with the slide 20 and guide 37 in the positionsin which they are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, until they are again releasedby the disengagement of the detont 45 from the arm 33. when the lever'47 drops into a low part of the cam 46 immediately following themoyemcnt of the carrier (3 from its highest to its lowest p051 tion.

When the reinforcing mechanism is thrown outof action, as herembeforeexplained, by the cam on the shaft 14, which lifts the carrier 6 intoits highest position, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6, and by thecam 46 which controls the operation of the hook slide 20 and guide 37,the rein forcing yarn a is carried forward with the fabric to, which itis attuchedxuutil it is caught by the inside holder and severed by thecutter hereinbefore mentioned.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement df partsconstituting the reinforcing 'mechahism and of the parts of the machinecooperating therewith, may be made without departing from the principleand scope of the'invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: 1. In a knitting machine the combination with a rotary needlecylinder provided with a circular series of latch needles, of u. yarncarrier movable into and out of position to direct a reinforcing yarn tothe needles between prcdetcrmined points in successive courses, meansfor operating said carrier, a reciprocating hook movable transversely tothe course of knitting within the series of needles and adapted whenprojected outwardly toward the needles to receive into its bight theyarn drawn by the fabric from the carrier as the carrier is shifted outof working position, a yielding clamp cooperating wit 1 one side of thebook as it is withdrawn inwardly to first grip the yarn, and astationary cutter cooperating with the other side of the hook to thensever the yarn between the clamp and the fabric.

2. In a knitting machine the combination with a rotary need lc cylinderrovided with a circular series of latch need es, of'a reinforcing yarncarrier, means for shiftin said carrier into and out of working positionat predetermined points in successive courses of knitting, areciprocating hook located within and movable transversely to the seriesof needles and adapted when projected outwardly toward the needles toreceive into itsbight'the yarn drawn from the carrier by the rotation ofthecylinder with the fabme as the carrier is shifted out of workingposition, a laterally yielding clamp coopersting with one side of thehook to first grip the yarn, a stationary cutter cooperating withthenther side of the hook to then sever the yarn close to the fabric, areciprocating inside guide movable back and forth transversely to themovement of the hook and cooperating with the carrier when it is shiftedmto working position to direct the yarn between the same needles insuccessive courses of knitting, and means for operating said hook andguide.

3. In a knittin machine the combination with a needle cylinder" providedwith a series of needles, of a reinforcing yarn carrier, means forshifting said carrier into and out of working position at predeterminedpoints in successive courses of knitting, a recipro eating hook locatedwithin and movable transversely to the series of needles and adaptedwhen projected outwardly toward the needles to receive the yarn drawnll' llll the carrier by the rotation of the fabric with the cylinder asthe cam-ier is shifted out ol working position, a clamp cooperating withone side of the hook to lirst grip the yarn, a cutter cooperating withthe other side of the hook to then sever the yarn close to the fabric,an inside guide movable into and out of position to eoiiperate with thecarrier when it is shifted into working position, to direct the yarnbetween the same needles in successive courses of knitting, and meansfor operating said hook and guide.

4. In a knitting machine the combination with a rotary needle cylinderprovided with a circular series of latch needles, of a reinforcing yarncarrier, means for shifting said carrier into and out of workingposition at predetermined points in successive courses of knitting,means within the series of needles for severing the yarn close to thefabric when it is withdrawn by the carrier from the needles and forholding the dctached end and returning the same to the needles when thecarrier is shifted back to working position, a tension devicecomprisin}: two disks between which the yarn is constantly directed tothe carrier, one of said disks being stationary and the other movableand provided with a stem which passes through and is guided axially inthe stationary disk, a spring tending to press the movable disk towardthe stationary disk, and a tension releasing lever adapted by ongagementwith the end of the stem of the movable disk to separate said disks andremove tension from the reinforcing yarn when said carrier is shiftedinto working position.

5. In a knitting machine having a needle cylinder provided with acircular series of needles, a reinforcing yarn carrier, means forshifting said carrier into and out of position to direct a reinforcingyarn to the needles between predetermined points in successive coursesof knitting, the combination of means within the series of needles forsevering the yarn when it is withdrawn by the carrier from the needlesand for holding the detached cnduntil the carrier is shifted intoWorking position, means for operating said severing and holding means. atension device comprising separable jaws between which the yarn is ledto the carrier, a backwardly yielding tension releasing arm' operated bysaid carrier to separate said jaws.

and a. movable stop actuated with the yarn severing and holding meansand adapted by engagement with said releasing arm to delay theseparation of the tension ]RWS when the carrier l2- shifted into workingposition until sulll holding means releasrs the yarn.

1. In a knitting machine the combination with a needle cylinder providedwith needles. :1 yarn rarrier movable into and out of position to directa rcinlorcing yarn to the needles between predetermined points insnrerssive courses of knitting and means for operating said carrier, ofa reciprocating hook located inside of the series of needles, a rollerroooperatiug with one side of the hook to sever said'yarn, a yieldingclamp (-oi'merating with the other side of the hook to grasp and holdthe detached end of the yarn. when the carrier is shifted out of workingposition, a hook operating connection, a tension device comprisingseparable jaws between which the yarn is led to the carrier, almckwardly yielding tension releasing arm operated with the. carrier toseparate said jaws, and a stop on the hook operating connection adaptedby engagement with said arm to delay the separation of the, 'aws whenthemarrier is shifted into working position until the hook is shifted torelease the end of the yarn held thereby against the clamp.

7. In a knitting machine the combination with a rotary needle cylinderprovided with a. circular series of latch needles, :1 yarn tarriermovable into and out of position to direct a reinforcing yarn to theneedles between predetermined points in successive courses of knittingand means for operating said carrier, of a. reciprocating hook locatedwithin the series of needles adjacent to the carrier, a clampeoiiperating with one side of the'hook to grip and hold the yarn whenthe carrier is shifted out of working position, a cutter cooperatingwith the other side of the hook to sever the yarn while it is held bythe clamp, a cam connected and rotatahle with the needle cylinder foroperating said hook in timed relation to the operation of the carrier,and a cam. adapted to prevent the operation of the hook by the firstmentioned cam during the knitting of unreinforcedportions of the fabric.

8. In 'a knitting machine the combination with a rotary needle cylinderprovided with a circular series of latch needles, a yarn carrier movableinto and out of position to direct a reinforcing Turn to the needlesbetween predetermined points in successive courses of knitting and meansfor operating said. carrier, of a reciprocating hook located inside ofthe series of needles, a yielding clamp coiiperating with one side ofthe hook to grip and hold the yarn when the carrier is shifted out ofworking position, a cutter co iperating with the other side of the hookto sever the yarn while it is held by the clamp close to the fabric, alever connected with said hook, a cam connected and rotatable with theneedle cylinder and adapted by engagenient with said lever to shift;said termined times in the operation U1 the nm- 10 book at predeterminedpoints in successive chine. courses of knitting, aspring tending to holdIn witness whereof I hereto ufiix my sigthe lever in engagement with thecam, a nature in presence of two witnesses. 5 detent adapted byengagement with the lever to prevent the operation of the book by theHERMAN PETERS. cam, and a releasing cam adapted to shift Witnesses: said.detent for rendering the reinforcing CHAS. L. Goss,

mechanism active and inactive at prede- H'murmcm' mums.

